This article from NSCA Coach explores how beet juice and nitrate supplements can enhance athletic performance. Learn more about nutrition and exercise physiology online at NSCA.com.

Dietary supplement use is quite prevalent among bodybuilders to enhance their physiques for competition. Many of the dietary supplements used by these athletes are neither safe nor effective. Several reviews have been published detailing the efficacy of dietary supplements for athletes; however, none have been written specifically for bodybuilders and physique athletes. Therefore, the aim of this article is to provide an evidence-based review of the top 5 dietary supplements for bodybuilding competitors: creatine, caffeine, protein powders, free-form essential amino acids, and beta-alanine. This review will provide bodybuilders, coaches, and practitioners with information on each supplement’s mechanism of action, seasonal benefits, protocol for use, and special considerations to optimize supplement strategies for performance, physique, and overall competitive success.

Diets moderately higher in protein and slightly lower in carbohydrate may be beneficial when it comes to weight loss and improving body composition, as well as for sport performance.

This excerpt from NSCA's Essentials of Tactical Strength and Conditioning explains the importance of third-party certifications on supplements in the tactical population.

In this session from the NSCA’s 2018 Personal Trainers Conference, Director of the Rutgers Center for Health and Human Performance, Shawn Arent, discusses the science and myths surrounding some of today’s most popular diet trends with an effort to help personal trainers understand reasonable, sustainable, and effective dietary strategies with their clients.

PT 2019

While acute inflammation is a normal response to high-intensity training, chronic inflammation results in depressed immunity and impaired muscle response. Learn about nutritional strategies to help balance exercise-induced inflammation to optimize performance outcomes.

This excerpt from NSCA's Guide to Sport and Exercise Nutrition briefly discusses micronutrients and their role in optimal athletic performance.

This TSAC column reviews oxidative damage in tactical populations and examines the role of dietary antioxidants in health and readiness. Visit NSCA online to learn more on nutrition research and tactical performance.